"Macho Man" Randy Savage Tribute Thread
05-12-2014
, 08:49 PM
05-12-2014
, 09:03 PM
05-12-2014
, 09:17 PM
05-12-2014
, 09:22 PM
I remember Jesse saying something similar right before a Demolition vs. Brainbusters match for the tag titles on Superstars where Demolition won their titles back.
05-12-2014
, 11:54 PM
Randy Savage turns face, builds to IC Title challenge against Honky Tonk Man
Dates: August/September 1987
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGDYOwMUW0k
The Honky Tonk Man had defeated Ricky Steamboat and become Intercontinental Champion. As the summer wore on, Honky started declaring himself the greatest IC Champion of all time and even explicitly said he was better than Savage, which…
...Randy Savage took umbrage to. Savage started the slow burn toward becoming a babyface as he built toward a title match against Honky Tonk Man on Saturday Night's Main Event. The match above contains not only the build-up to the match but also the climax of that match. The post that follows will give an actual writeup of the (almost) full match though.
Dates: August/September 1987
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGDYOwMUW0k
The Honky Tonk Man had defeated Ricky Steamboat and become Intercontinental Champion. As the summer wore on, Honky started declaring himself the greatest IC Champion of all time and even explicitly said he was better than Savage, which…
...Randy Savage took umbrage to. Savage started the slow burn toward becoming a babyface as he built toward a title match against Honky Tonk Man on Saturday Night's Main Event. The match above contains not only the build-up to the match but also the climax of that match. The post that follows will give an actual writeup of the (almost) full match though.
05-12-2014
, 11:56 PM
Saturday Night's Main Event XII: Intercontinental Title - Honky Tonk Man (c) vs. Randy Savage
Date: October 3, 1987
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUBQqkUB7hA
Background: See the video in the post above for the full background. This was the culmination of Macho Man turning face and challenging Honky for not only the title, but informally for the title of greatest IC Champ ever.
The Match: The clip here seems to be joined in progress, with Honky Tonk returning to the ring with the Hart Foundation in tow. Savage gets the early control, with a right, a turnbuckle smash, a snapmare, and an elbow drop, but Honky gets out of the way of a follow-up charge after Savage sends him into the corner, and the champ gets things calmed down.
Back bodydrop by Honky. He taunts Elizabeth, which gives Savage enough time to execute an inverted atomic drop, but Savage can't follow up and Honky keeps control. Places him in the corner, goes to the second rope to lay in some right hands. Snapmare. Up to the second rope, fistdrop attempt misses.
Elbow smashes by Savage, followed by a back bodydrop. Honky begs for mercy; Savage responds with punches and kicks. Suplex by the Macho Man. Honky again breaks up Savage's momentum, this time with an eye rake. He sends Savage outside and distracts the official as Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart stomp and beat away at Savage outside before finally sending Savage back in.
Honky attempts a pin after the Hart Foundation rolls Savage back in, but only two. Goes for the Shake, Rattle and Roll, but Savage reverses and blocks it. Bodyslam. Savage up to the top, hits with the flying elbow off the top rope. Looks like we're going to have a new champion, but Bret Hart runs in and breaks up the pin at two for the disqualification to save Honky's title.
All three of Jimmy Hart's men continue beating Savage down. The Harts hold Randy up while Honky paintbrushes him with slaps. Honky steps away and grabs the guitar, then begins to measure Savage, clearly meaning to clobber Savage over the head with it. As he's just about to follow through and hit Savage, Elizabeth runs in and stands in Savage's way. Honky stops, but then pretty violently shoves Elizabeth to the mat. She slides out of the ring, and runs to the back.
With nobody still around to protect Savage, he's a sitting duck and Honky finally breaks the guitar over his head. Suddenly Elizabeth comes back with Hulk Hogan, who for some reason acts completely confused about what's going on in the ring until he gets halfway there and sees what's up. (1) Since when do wrestlers in the back not know what's going on in the ring? (2) Did Elizabeth for some reason not tell him why she was asking for help?
Hogan and Savage clear the ring, then face off in a threatening stance toward each other. Savage stops, drops his stance, and then offers a handshake to Hogan. Vince: "We could be seeing the meeting of the madness and the mania." Hogan shakes Savage's hand. The face turn is cemented, and we have the legendary first moment of the Mega Powers joining forces. Really an awesome moment from the era.
Result: Randy Savage via DQ (13:00)
Rating: The match was whatever, I'll say N/A because I didn't even get to see the whole thing, but when you count all of the post-match stuff this was a fantastic and iconic moment.
Savage and Hogan give an interview later in the Saturday Night's Main Event; Mega Powers officially named and formed
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybpwc745eqI
Here's the interview where Savage dubbed the two "The Mega Powers." Quite the crack-addled promo from both men.
Date: October 3, 1987
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUBQqkUB7hA
Background: See the video in the post above for the full background. This was the culmination of Macho Man turning face and challenging Honky for not only the title, but informally for the title of greatest IC Champ ever.
The Match: The clip here seems to be joined in progress, with Honky Tonk returning to the ring with the Hart Foundation in tow. Savage gets the early control, with a right, a turnbuckle smash, a snapmare, and an elbow drop, but Honky gets out of the way of a follow-up charge after Savage sends him into the corner, and the champ gets things calmed down.
Back bodydrop by Honky. He taunts Elizabeth, which gives Savage enough time to execute an inverted atomic drop, but Savage can't follow up and Honky keeps control. Places him in the corner, goes to the second rope to lay in some right hands. Snapmare. Up to the second rope, fistdrop attempt misses.
Elbow smashes by Savage, followed by a back bodydrop. Honky begs for mercy; Savage responds with punches and kicks. Suplex by the Macho Man. Honky again breaks up Savage's momentum, this time with an eye rake. He sends Savage outside and distracts the official as Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart stomp and beat away at Savage outside before finally sending Savage back in.
Honky attempts a pin after the Hart Foundation rolls Savage back in, but only two. Goes for the Shake, Rattle and Roll, but Savage reverses and blocks it. Bodyslam. Savage up to the top, hits with the flying elbow off the top rope. Looks like we're going to have a new champion, but Bret Hart runs in and breaks up the pin at two for the disqualification to save Honky's title.
All three of Jimmy Hart's men continue beating Savage down. The Harts hold Randy up while Honky paintbrushes him with slaps. Honky steps away and grabs the guitar, then begins to measure Savage, clearly meaning to clobber Savage over the head with it. As he's just about to follow through and hit Savage, Elizabeth runs in and stands in Savage's way. Honky stops, but then pretty violently shoves Elizabeth to the mat. She slides out of the ring, and runs to the back.
With nobody still around to protect Savage, he's a sitting duck and Honky finally breaks the guitar over his head. Suddenly Elizabeth comes back with Hulk Hogan, who for some reason acts completely confused about what's going on in the ring until he gets halfway there and sees what's up. (1) Since when do wrestlers in the back not know what's going on in the ring? (2) Did Elizabeth for some reason not tell him why she was asking for help?
Hogan and Savage clear the ring, then face off in a threatening stance toward each other. Savage stops, drops his stance, and then offers a handshake to Hogan. Vince: "We could be seeing the meeting of the madness and the mania." Hogan shakes Savage's hand. The face turn is cemented, and we have the legendary first moment of the Mega Powers joining forces. Really an awesome moment from the era.
Result: Randy Savage via DQ (13:00)
Rating: The match was whatever, I'll say N/A because I didn't even get to see the whole thing, but when you count all of the post-match stuff this was a fantastic and iconic moment.
Savage and Hogan give an interview later in the Saturday Night's Main Event; Mega Powers officially named and formed
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybpwc745eqI
Here's the interview where Savage dubbed the two "The Mega Powers." Quite the crack-addled promo from both men.
05-12-2014
, 11:57 PM
05-13-2014
, 06:29 AM
05-13-2014
, 07:06 PM
05-13-2014
, 08:02 PM
Survivor Series '87: Elimination Match - Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, Ricky Steamboat, Brutus Beefcake, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Honky Tonk Man, Hercules, Ron Bass, Harley Race, and Danny Davis
Date: November 26, 1987
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31355077 (WWE Network only)
Background: Savage and Honky Tonk Man were feuding. Duggan and Race were feuding. I think Beefcake and Bass were too? This was pretty thrown-together though.
The Match: Alright, first of all: wat.
(1) Ricky Steamboat is just happily tagging with Randy Savage and Jake Roberts a year after Randy Savage tried to end his career by breaking his throat and after Jake had DDT'd him on the concrete? All just because they're on #TeamBabyface now? Gross.
(2) What the hell did poor Honky do to get stuck with such a team of jobbers?
Anyway, that is what it is. Just after I type that, they send it backstage to an interview with Honky's team, where he declares them the greatest team ever assembled. Umm, well upon hitting the ring, they were the best team in Survivor Series history, but only because they were curtain-jerking the first-ever Survivor Series match. They were overpowered as soon as their opposition strolled out. The four jobbers come out to Harley Race's royal Great Gate of Kiev music that Jerry Lawler has used for the last 20 years. Honky gets his own entrance. Interview with Savage's team doesn't indicate any issue between Steamboat and the rest. I mean maybe they covered that in the build-up, but I doubt it.
Beefcake and Hercules start. Beefcake mops him up, and even clears out several of the other heels when they try to enter. Danny Davis tags in; Beefcake tags Jake, who hits a couple of moves and then tags Macho. Macho makes only a quick cameo, rams Davis into Steamboat's boot as a nice teamwork move because they're BFFs now, and then tags his buddy Steamboat. Harley Race tags in, and he and Steamboat have a rough exchange despite Steamboat's best efforts because Race was just awful by this point in his career.
Steamboat tags out to Duggan, Duggan and Race brawl outside the ring and both get counted out. Well that's one way to improve a match's workrate in a hurry.
Savage gets his first stint of more than 15 seconds in the match by tagging in and wrestling against Ron Bass. He delivers some right hands and a knee drop, and has control, but he gets greedy and attacks some heels on the apron, and getting preoccupied with this other attack allows Bass to blindside him and then tag out to Honky. Honky works Savage over, tags Bass back in and he does likewise, but Savage manages a blind tag to Brutus as he goes off the ropes, and Brutus comes in and clobbers Bass with a high knee which is good enough to get a three-count. Ron Bass is eliminated; we're 4-on-3.
The other heels converge on Brutus, and he finds himself quickly in face-in-peril mode. Beefcake finally manages to slip out and execute an atomic drop on Honky, then smashes him into the turnbuckle, and instead of making the hot tag he stays on offense. In doing so, he launches himself off the ropes, gets a knee to the back from Davis that he hobbles out of, and Honky hits his Shake, Rattle and Roll (swinging neckbreaker) and pins Brutus. 3-on-3.
Savage comes in, gets quickly caught up in the heel corner and takes a beating from each man. He starts to fall into trouble, but ducks a clothesline and quickly tags out to Jake. Honky gets the upper hand on Jake, and again we have a face in peril as Honky tags Hercules in and Hercules lays in the right hands. Tries several pins, only gets two-counts, but then tags out to Danny Davis. Davis sucks and was always booked extremely weakly; here, he has Jake in a corner but his punches stop having an effect. Roberts pulls him out, hits the short clothesline and then the DDT for an elimination that gets a galactic pop.
Steamboat has a nice sequence of moves against Hercules, culminating in a tomahawk chop off the top rope. He signals to the crowd, then he bodyslams Herc and tags in Savage, who scales to the other corner from his own, goes up top, and hits the flying elbow for the elimination. Alright; as much as I want to gripe about those two working so seamlessly together six months after they were bitter enemies, that tandem spot where Steamboat set up the flying elbow was too fun not to enjoy.
We're at 3-on-1. Steamboat takes it to Honky, then tags in Jake Roberts. Honky attempts a sunset flip, but Jake punches him in the face to stop him from pulling him over for a pin attempt. Tags out to Savage. Savage in, up to the second rope, hits an axhandle from there. All three of these men had a grudge with Honky over time, so the beatdown they start putting on him here is cathartic. Savage hits Honky with an atomic drop that sends him over the top. Honky just keeps moving and walks out on the match, getting counted out for the final elimination.
Results: Team Macho Man wins, Savage/Steamboat/Roberts remaining survivors (24:00)
Rating: Gotta say, I generally enjoyed this match quite a bit, especially considering just how lame the heel team was. They kicked off the inaugural PPV in fine style. **** it, I'll break from my policy of not rating the Survivor Series elimination matches: 3.5 stars out of 5.
Date: November 26, 1987
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31355077 (WWE Network only)
Background: Savage and Honky Tonk Man were feuding. Duggan and Race were feuding. I think Beefcake and Bass were too? This was pretty thrown-together though.
The Match: Alright, first of all: wat.
(1) Ricky Steamboat is just happily tagging with Randy Savage and Jake Roberts a year after Randy Savage tried to end his career by breaking his throat and after Jake had DDT'd him on the concrete? All just because they're on #TeamBabyface now? Gross.
(2) What the hell did poor Honky do to get stuck with such a team of jobbers?
Anyway, that is what it is. Just after I type that, they send it backstage to an interview with Honky's team, where he declares them the greatest team ever assembled. Umm, well upon hitting the ring, they were the best team in Survivor Series history, but only because they were curtain-jerking the first-ever Survivor Series match. They were overpowered as soon as their opposition strolled out. The four jobbers come out to Harley Race's royal Great Gate of Kiev music that Jerry Lawler has used for the last 20 years. Honky gets his own entrance. Interview with Savage's team doesn't indicate any issue between Steamboat and the rest. I mean maybe they covered that in the build-up, but I doubt it.
Beefcake and Hercules start. Beefcake mops him up, and even clears out several of the other heels when they try to enter. Danny Davis tags in; Beefcake tags Jake, who hits a couple of moves and then tags Macho. Macho makes only a quick cameo, rams Davis into Steamboat's boot as a nice teamwork move because they're BFFs now, and then tags his buddy Steamboat. Harley Race tags in, and he and Steamboat have a rough exchange despite Steamboat's best efforts because Race was just awful by this point in his career.
Steamboat tags out to Duggan, Duggan and Race brawl outside the ring and both get counted out. Well that's one way to improve a match's workrate in a hurry.
Savage gets his first stint of more than 15 seconds in the match by tagging in and wrestling against Ron Bass. He delivers some right hands and a knee drop, and has control, but he gets greedy and attacks some heels on the apron, and getting preoccupied with this other attack allows Bass to blindside him and then tag out to Honky. Honky works Savage over, tags Bass back in and he does likewise, but Savage manages a blind tag to Brutus as he goes off the ropes, and Brutus comes in and clobbers Bass with a high knee which is good enough to get a three-count. Ron Bass is eliminated; we're 4-on-3.
The other heels converge on Brutus, and he finds himself quickly in face-in-peril mode. Beefcake finally manages to slip out and execute an atomic drop on Honky, then smashes him into the turnbuckle, and instead of making the hot tag he stays on offense. In doing so, he launches himself off the ropes, gets a knee to the back from Davis that he hobbles out of, and Honky hits his Shake, Rattle and Roll (swinging neckbreaker) and pins Brutus. 3-on-3.
Savage comes in, gets quickly caught up in the heel corner and takes a beating from each man. He starts to fall into trouble, but ducks a clothesline and quickly tags out to Jake. Honky gets the upper hand on Jake, and again we have a face in peril as Honky tags Hercules in and Hercules lays in the right hands. Tries several pins, only gets two-counts, but then tags out to Danny Davis. Davis sucks and was always booked extremely weakly; here, he has Jake in a corner but his punches stop having an effect. Roberts pulls him out, hits the short clothesline and then the DDT for an elimination that gets a galactic pop.
Steamboat has a nice sequence of moves against Hercules, culminating in a tomahawk chop off the top rope. He signals to the crowd, then he bodyslams Herc and tags in Savage, who scales to the other corner from his own, goes up top, and hits the flying elbow for the elimination. Alright; as much as I want to gripe about those two working so seamlessly together six months after they were bitter enemies, that tandem spot where Steamboat set up the flying elbow was too fun not to enjoy.
We're at 3-on-1. Steamboat takes it to Honky, then tags in Jake Roberts. Honky attempts a sunset flip, but Jake punches him in the face to stop him from pulling him over for a pin attempt. Tags out to Savage. Savage in, up to the second rope, hits an axhandle from there. All three of these men had a grudge with Honky over time, so the beatdown they start putting on him here is cathartic. Savage hits Honky with an atomic drop that sends him over the top. Honky just keeps moving and walks out on the match, getting counted out for the final elimination.
Results: Team Macho Man wins, Savage/Steamboat/Roberts remaining survivors (24:00)
Rating: Gotta say, I generally enjoyed this match quite a bit, especially considering just how lame the heel team was. They kicked off the inaugural PPV in fine style. **** it, I'll break from my policy of not rating the Survivor Series elimination matches: 3.5 stars out of 5.
05-13-2014
, 09:30 PM
Saturday Night's Main Event XIII: Randy Savage vs. Bret Hart
Date: November 28, 1987
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwi...ret-hart_sport
Background: Bret Hart ran in and cost Savage the Intercontinental Title at the last Saturday Night's Main Event and, with Honky Tonk Man and Jim Neidhart, beat Savage down until Hulk Hogan finally came to Savage's aid.
The Match: Hart out first. Savage follows, and when Elizabeth is about to walk up the steps to the ring he stops her because he wants to keep her away from these guys after Honky Tonk Man shoved her over after last month's match. Jimmy Hart and Jim Neidhart seem to be stalking around Elizabeth, which foreshadows a distraction for Macho in this match.
Savage chases both of the Hart Foundation around ringside to start, brawls with Bret a bit and immediately rams him into the steel post. Hart reluctantly returns to the ring and Savage keeps taking the fight to him, but a reversal into the corner levels Savage and changes the momentum. The Hitman's control doesn't last long though, as he drops his head early for a back bodydrop and eats Macho's boot. Savage lays in some right hands, Bret attempts to escape, gets as far as the apron, Savage gets a running start and knocks him flying into the steel barricade.
Savage gets distracted by both the Anvil and Jimmy, who jump up on the apron. He wastes enough time that when he heads to the other side to have a go at Bret, he attempts the axhandle off the top to the floor but Bret nails him with Jimmy's megaphone on the way down. Savage is laid out, and once he gets returned to the ring, Bret is in firm control. Hangs Savage up in the tree of woe, lays in a number of kicks. Follows with a very solid piledriver, which gets a two-count.
Hitman measures him with an elbow smash to the head. Whips Savage into the ropes, but gets reversed and Bret goes lunging into the corner. Savage takes him to the opposite corner and sends him into the post. Axhandle off the top by Macho. Two-count. Bret with a punch as Randy tries to pick him back up, then Bret executes a backbreaker. Up to the second rope for the elbow drop, but Savage moves out of the way. Savage picks him up, runs him to the ropes and jumps over, hanging him on the top rope.
Macho Man fights Bret into the ropes, referee tries to break it up, Savage pushes the referee back across the ring and gets away with it, but he charges with Bret and Bret back bodydrops him over the top. Savage suffers a kayfable ankle injury on this bump. They go to break with a question of whether or not Savage can continue.
Savage crawls his way back in as the match comes back from commercial. Bret immediately attacks the injured ankle, drags him feet-first to the corner, and then deliberately posts Savage's ankle. Not the knee like usual mind you, but he actually deliberately rammed the ankle into the post. Bret attempts to slap on a figure-four, but Savage desperately boots him off and into the corner. Savage manages a roll-up for a near count, but he can't really follow; he's selling the ankle injury hard.
Hart turns Savage over into a half-crab. Rope break. Snapmare by Bret. Savage creates a moment of separation with an eye rake and rolls to the apron. Bret picks him up from the apron, seemingly for a powerslam, and Savage rolls him into a small package for the 1-2-3. Jesse: "Macho Man won this on one leg, I don't believe it!" Bret tries to hold Savage up so that Jimmy can hit him with the megaphone, but Savage ducks and Jimmy hits Bret instead.
Savage was very, very over here. The face turn had gone extremely well.
Result: Randy Savage via pinfall (12:03)
Rating: Good action, good story, the comeback from the ankle injury to win the match was a satisfying one and a nice piece of booking early in Savage's face run. 3 stars out of 5.
Date: November 28, 1987
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwi...ret-hart_sport
Background: Bret Hart ran in and cost Savage the Intercontinental Title at the last Saturday Night's Main Event and, with Honky Tonk Man and Jim Neidhart, beat Savage down until Hulk Hogan finally came to Savage's aid.
The Match: Hart out first. Savage follows, and when Elizabeth is about to walk up the steps to the ring he stops her because he wants to keep her away from these guys after Honky Tonk Man shoved her over after last month's match. Jimmy Hart and Jim Neidhart seem to be stalking around Elizabeth, which foreshadows a distraction for Macho in this match.
Savage chases both of the Hart Foundation around ringside to start, brawls with Bret a bit and immediately rams him into the steel post. Hart reluctantly returns to the ring and Savage keeps taking the fight to him, but a reversal into the corner levels Savage and changes the momentum. The Hitman's control doesn't last long though, as he drops his head early for a back bodydrop and eats Macho's boot. Savage lays in some right hands, Bret attempts to escape, gets as far as the apron, Savage gets a running start and knocks him flying into the steel barricade.
Savage gets distracted by both the Anvil and Jimmy, who jump up on the apron. He wastes enough time that when he heads to the other side to have a go at Bret, he attempts the axhandle off the top to the floor but Bret nails him with Jimmy's megaphone on the way down. Savage is laid out, and once he gets returned to the ring, Bret is in firm control. Hangs Savage up in the tree of woe, lays in a number of kicks. Follows with a very solid piledriver, which gets a two-count.
Hitman measures him with an elbow smash to the head. Whips Savage into the ropes, but gets reversed and Bret goes lunging into the corner. Savage takes him to the opposite corner and sends him into the post. Axhandle off the top by Macho. Two-count. Bret with a punch as Randy tries to pick him back up, then Bret executes a backbreaker. Up to the second rope for the elbow drop, but Savage moves out of the way. Savage picks him up, runs him to the ropes and jumps over, hanging him on the top rope.
Macho Man fights Bret into the ropes, referee tries to break it up, Savage pushes the referee back across the ring and gets away with it, but he charges with Bret and Bret back bodydrops him over the top. Savage suffers a kayfable ankle injury on this bump. They go to break with a question of whether or not Savage can continue.
Savage crawls his way back in as the match comes back from commercial. Bret immediately attacks the injured ankle, drags him feet-first to the corner, and then deliberately posts Savage's ankle. Not the knee like usual mind you, but he actually deliberately rammed the ankle into the post. Bret attempts to slap on a figure-four, but Savage desperately boots him off and into the corner. Savage manages a roll-up for a near count, but he can't really follow; he's selling the ankle injury hard.
Hart turns Savage over into a half-crab. Rope break. Snapmare by Bret. Savage creates a moment of separation with an eye rake and rolls to the apron. Bret picks him up from the apron, seemingly for a powerslam, and Savage rolls him into a small package for the 1-2-3. Jesse: "Macho Man won this on one leg, I don't believe it!" Bret tries to hold Savage up so that Jimmy can hit him with the megaphone, but Savage ducks and Jimmy hits Bret instead.
Savage was very, very over here. The face turn had gone extremely well.
Result: Randy Savage via pinfall (12:03)
Rating: Good action, good story, the comeback from the ankle injury to win the match was a satisfying one and a nice piece of booking early in Savage's face run. 3 stars out of 5.
05-13-2014
, 09:51 PM
The Main Event I: Intercontinental Title - Honky Tonk Man (c) vs. Randy Savage
Date: February 5, 1988
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRG0Q6Dy7Wk#t=03m35s
Background: The feud with Honky was nearly six months strong by this point, including Honky forcibly shoving Miss Elizabeth to the mat when Honky and Savage last met in televised singles action on Saturday Night's Main Event XII.
The Match: Honky Tonk Man cuts a lame promo saying that Elizabeth is in love with him, and then references like eight different Elvis songs and essentially proudly goes "HAR HAR HAR" after every reference. Honky's girlfriend Peggy Sue comes down to the ring for this one. Peggy Sue was Sherri Martel in a blonde wig and a 50s dress. She and Elizabeth would be on opposite sides for years after this. Savage cuts a promo vowing to get revenge for what Honky did to Elizabeth.
Savage hits the ring, chases Honky out of it, but catches up to him, lays in an elbow smash, then brings Honky back into the ring just to hang him over the top rope. Sends him into the corner, hits him with an elbow as he staggers out. The champion goes outside to consult Jimmy Hart, and Macho reaches out and clunks Jimmy's and Honky's heads together.
Jimmy distracts Savage from outside, allowing Honky to attack from behind and get his first control. Honky attempts a sunset flip, but a punch by Savage breaks up the attempt. Reverses Savage into the corner though, and Savage's shoulder hits hard there. Honky with an elbow off the ropes, and it misses.
Macho Man gets distracted, goes and chases Jimmy out of the ring, then through the ring as Jimmy goes through, and as referee Joey Marella is trying to dispose of that situation, Honky hits Savage with the megaphone. Pin attempt, no leg hooked, count of two. Not hooking the leg is so bad, since it totally telegraphs kickouts a lot of the time.
Savage off the ropes, Honky knees him in the gut. Savage rolls outside, but Honky follows him and rolls him right back in. We have a heat segment, with the champion working his full offense. Note: his full offense consisted of a lot of very basic moves. Honky gives up his control to go outside and stalk after Elizabeth like a creeper. If his name was George Steele it would be sweet of him.
Savage chases Honky down from the outside, gets control. Axhandle off the top to the floor. Tosses the champion back in. Bodyslam. Up to the top, another axhandle off the top to the inside. Jimmy Hart up on the apron, Savage pulls him into the ring. Savage grabs Jimmy, Honky tries to take advantage with an attack from behind but Macho dodges and Honky hits Jimmy.
Sleeperhold by Savage. He seems to have Honky going out, but Peggy Sue starts going after Elizabeth on the outside. Savage gets distracted and goes to break it up. Honky follows him, Savage posts Honky, and upon returning to the ring, Marella counts to 10 and we have another lame countout ending.
Honky stalks Savage with his guitar in hand after the match. As he backs him up, Jimmy clocks Savage from behind with the megaphone. Honky prepares to swing his guitar at Savage, but Liz kneels in the way. He goes ahead anyway, but Savage gets up and stops his guitar, steals it away, chases Honky out of the ring and breaks the guitar. With Elizabeth on the apron, Savage holds the ropes open for her, then lifts her up on his shoulder in celebration. The only real difference he made as a babyface was to start treating Liz way better. Otherwise his character was very, very similar.
Result: Randy Savage via countout (8:20)
Rating: Not great. Just okay. 2 stars out of 5.
Date: February 5, 1988
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRG0Q6Dy7Wk#t=03m35s
Background: The feud with Honky was nearly six months strong by this point, including Honky forcibly shoving Miss Elizabeth to the mat when Honky and Savage last met in televised singles action on Saturday Night's Main Event XII.
The Match: Honky Tonk Man cuts a lame promo saying that Elizabeth is in love with him, and then references like eight different Elvis songs and essentially proudly goes "HAR HAR HAR" after every reference. Honky's girlfriend Peggy Sue comes down to the ring for this one. Peggy Sue was Sherri Martel in a blonde wig and a 50s dress. She and Elizabeth would be on opposite sides for years after this. Savage cuts a promo vowing to get revenge for what Honky did to Elizabeth.
Savage hits the ring, chases Honky out of it, but catches up to him, lays in an elbow smash, then brings Honky back into the ring just to hang him over the top rope. Sends him into the corner, hits him with an elbow as he staggers out. The champion goes outside to consult Jimmy Hart, and Macho reaches out and clunks Jimmy's and Honky's heads together.
Jimmy distracts Savage from outside, allowing Honky to attack from behind and get his first control. Honky attempts a sunset flip, but a punch by Savage breaks up the attempt. Reverses Savage into the corner though, and Savage's shoulder hits hard there. Honky with an elbow off the ropes, and it misses.
Macho Man gets distracted, goes and chases Jimmy out of the ring, then through the ring as Jimmy goes through, and as referee Joey Marella is trying to dispose of that situation, Honky hits Savage with the megaphone. Pin attempt, no leg hooked, count of two. Not hooking the leg is so bad, since it totally telegraphs kickouts a lot of the time.
Savage off the ropes, Honky knees him in the gut. Savage rolls outside, but Honky follows him and rolls him right back in. We have a heat segment, with the champion working his full offense. Note: his full offense consisted of a lot of very basic moves. Honky gives up his control to go outside and stalk after Elizabeth like a creeper. If his name was George Steele it would be sweet of him.
Savage chases Honky down from the outside, gets control. Axhandle off the top to the floor. Tosses the champion back in. Bodyslam. Up to the top, another axhandle off the top to the inside. Jimmy Hart up on the apron, Savage pulls him into the ring. Savage grabs Jimmy, Honky tries to take advantage with an attack from behind but Macho dodges and Honky hits Jimmy.
Sleeperhold by Savage. He seems to have Honky going out, but Peggy Sue starts going after Elizabeth on the outside. Savage gets distracted and goes to break it up. Honky follows him, Savage posts Honky, and upon returning to the ring, Marella counts to 10 and we have another lame countout ending.
Honky stalks Savage with his guitar in hand after the match. As he backs him up, Jimmy clocks Savage from behind with the megaphone. Honky prepares to swing his guitar at Savage, but Liz kneels in the way. He goes ahead anyway, but Savage gets up and stops his guitar, steals it away, chases Honky out of the ring and breaks the guitar. With Elizabeth on the apron, Savage holds the ropes open for her, then lifts her up on his shoulder in celebration. The only real difference he made as a babyface was to start treating Liz way better. Otherwise his character was very, very similar.
Result: Randy Savage via countout (8:20)
Rating: Not great. Just okay. 2 stars out of 5.
05-13-2014
, 09:53 PM
Boston Garden House Show: Cage Match - Randy Savage & Strike Force vs. Honky Tonk Man & The Hart Foundation
Date: March 5, 1988
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50sXWB7J7Ws
Background: Strike Force (Santana and Martel) were the tag team champions. I'm not sure that they had a particular rivalry with the Harts - they were scheduled to face Demolition in three weeks at WrestleMania - but if they didn't have a feud going then this match makes more sense since it keeps the Jimmy Hart camp teaming together instead of randomly teaming Honky with Demolition. Savage and Honky obviously had their long ongoing feud.
The Match: I suppose I can't complain about Santana and Savage teaming up if I was able to make peace with Savage teaming with Steamboat. Former enemies teaming up really was a lot more rare back in the good old days though. As Savage and Strike Force hit the inside of the cage, the heels immediately ambush them. This is a no-pinfall match; all three men must escape the cage and touch the floor outside at the same time to win.
There's no tagging to speak of here; this is just tornado rules the whole way. I don't even know how I can successfully write this up, since it's just going to be brawling everywhere. Bret Hart attempts to get out over the top, but Martel stops him. Shortly after, Neidhart tries to get out, and Tito Santana not only blocks him but outfights him and manages to escape the cage himself. But then Neidhart follows him out anyway. It seems that once these guys are outside, they can't re-enter.
So, we're down to 2-on-2, Honky Tonk Man and Bret Hart vs. Randy Savage and Rick Martel. Bret tries to whip Martel into the ropes, Martel reverses and Bret launches into the wire meshing of the cage. Martel nearly escapes over the top himself, but Bret gets up just in time to grab a pretty firm grip on his tights and keep him in.
Savage and Martel whip both of Jimmy Hart's men into each other. Then they start leaving outside of opposite sides. Martel makes it to the floor, but Honky blocks Savage's exit, and now we're in a 2-on-1 situation. Honky and Bret double-team Savage, and Bret starts to leave, but Honky is the one smart guy in this match and calls Bret back to come help him double-team further.
The two whip Savage into the ropes, combine for a double-back elbow on him. Cage door opens, and Bret leaves. Honky, who I just called smart, goes ahead and hangs out to beat on Savage some more. Seems legit. Obviously when he gets around to trying to leave, Savage stops him. Honky makes another escape attempt over the top, but Savage manages to climb up and stop that as well. They trade blows as they both stand high on the cage, Honky falls off and gets crotched on the top rope, and that opens the opportunity for Savage to easily climb out and make it to the floor for the win.
Result: Savage & Strike Force via cage escape (8:21)
Rating: Meh this was kind of a mess. Wasn't completely without its charms, but just too much stupidity on all sides and not a lot of payoff from an action standpoint. 1.5 stars out of 5.
Date: March 5, 1988
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50sXWB7J7Ws
Background: Strike Force (Santana and Martel) were the tag team champions. I'm not sure that they had a particular rivalry with the Harts - they were scheduled to face Demolition in three weeks at WrestleMania - but if they didn't have a feud going then this match makes more sense since it keeps the Jimmy Hart camp teaming together instead of randomly teaming Honky with Demolition. Savage and Honky obviously had their long ongoing feud.
The Match: I suppose I can't complain about Santana and Savage teaming up if I was able to make peace with Savage teaming with Steamboat. Former enemies teaming up really was a lot more rare back in the good old days though. As Savage and Strike Force hit the inside of the cage, the heels immediately ambush them. This is a no-pinfall match; all three men must escape the cage and touch the floor outside at the same time to win.
There's no tagging to speak of here; this is just tornado rules the whole way. I don't even know how I can successfully write this up, since it's just going to be brawling everywhere. Bret Hart attempts to get out over the top, but Martel stops him. Shortly after, Neidhart tries to get out, and Tito Santana not only blocks him but outfights him and manages to escape the cage himself. But then Neidhart follows him out anyway. It seems that once these guys are outside, they can't re-enter.
So, we're down to 2-on-2, Honky Tonk Man and Bret Hart vs. Randy Savage and Rick Martel. Bret tries to whip Martel into the ropes, Martel reverses and Bret launches into the wire meshing of the cage. Martel nearly escapes over the top himself, but Bret gets up just in time to grab a pretty firm grip on his tights and keep him in.
Savage and Martel whip both of Jimmy Hart's men into each other. Then they start leaving outside of opposite sides. Martel makes it to the floor, but Honky blocks Savage's exit, and now we're in a 2-on-1 situation. Honky and Bret double-team Savage, and Bret starts to leave, but Honky is the one smart guy in this match and calls Bret back to come help him double-team further.
The two whip Savage into the ropes, combine for a double-back elbow on him. Cage door opens, and Bret leaves. Honky, who I just called smart, goes ahead and hangs out to beat on Savage some more. Seems legit. Obviously when he gets around to trying to leave, Savage stops him. Honky makes another escape attempt over the top, but Savage manages to climb up and stop that as well. They trade blows as they both stand high on the cage, Honky falls off and gets crotched on the top rope, and that opens the opportunity for Savage to easily climb out and make it to the floor for the win.
Result: Savage & Strike Force via cage escape (8:21)
Rating: Meh this was kind of a mess. Wasn't completely without its charms, but just too much stupidity on all sides and not a lot of payoff from an action standpoint. 1.5 stars out of 5.
05-13-2014
, 10:57 PM
Saturday Night's Main Event XV: Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase
Date: March 12, 1988
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6f...-dibiase_sport
Background: Ted DiBiase had tried to buy off Savage's buddy Hogan. Savage indicates here that DiBiase tried to buy him off as well, but that "his check is gonna bounce." There wasn't a ton of background between them.
The Match: As the two men are in the ring preparing for the match to start, Ted happily points down the aisle, as Andre the Giant is making his way to ringside to be in Ted's corner.
Savage gets distracted out of the ring as the match starts by Virgil, and DiBiase follows him out and hits him from behind. Hammers away on Savage inside, then strangles him over the top rope. Macho into the ropes, back elbow by the Million Dollar Man. Continues to work him over with turnbuckle smashes, right hands, and shoulder blocks. Elbow strike to the top of Savage's head from the second rope.
Savage reverses a whip into the corner, hits a back elbow. Ted reverses Savage's whip into the ropes, but then drops his head too early for a back bodydrop and gets kicked in the face. Running knee to Ted's back dumps him out of the ring, Savage follows and tosses him back in. Axhandle off the top rope to DiBiase in the middle of the ring.
Elbow drop by Savage. Bodyslam. Follows with a kneedrop, but misses. Spinning toe hold by DiBiase, but Savage kicks him all the way out to the floor. DiBiase drags Macho out. Once Savage starts to get the better of him, Andre starts bearing in on him. As he stops, Virgil blatantly attacks him from behind, seemingly right in front of referee Dave Hebner, but instead of disqualifying DiBiase, Hebner just ejects Virgil. Commercial break.
Back from break, Ted lowers an axhandle from the second rope. Locks in the reverse chinlock to talk something over, really the first real resting spot of the match. Randy works his way back up to his feet, elbows his way loose from the hold. Shoulderblock by Savage off the ropes. Off the ropes again with a clothesline. Elbow smash. Back bodydrop. Sends DiBiase into the ropes, drops down underneath him, and DiBiase collides with Hebner for the ref bump.
Savage with a knee-lift, then he dumps Ted outside. Nice axhandle from the top to the floor. At this point Andre attacks Savage from behind, then posts him. As Andre continues the beating, Elizabeth runs backstage. Dave Hebner finally comes to, and he counts to 10 for the countout. Andre throws Savage back into the ring, Virgil runs back down, and the three begin to beat Savage down further. This only lasts a minute or so, until Hogan comes running down with a chair in hand to clear the ring. Liz is back with him, obviously being the one who went and got Hulk.
Result: Ted DiBiase via countout (11:39)
Rating: Pretty decent. Good heel work from DiBiase here. A good foreshadow of what was about to happen at WrestleMania IV. 2.75 stars out of 5.
Date: March 12, 1988
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6f...-dibiase_sport
Background: Ted DiBiase had tried to buy off Savage's buddy Hogan. Savage indicates here that DiBiase tried to buy him off as well, but that "his check is gonna bounce." There wasn't a ton of background between them.
The Match: As the two men are in the ring preparing for the match to start, Ted happily points down the aisle, as Andre the Giant is making his way to ringside to be in Ted's corner.
Savage gets distracted out of the ring as the match starts by Virgil, and DiBiase follows him out and hits him from behind. Hammers away on Savage inside, then strangles him over the top rope. Macho into the ropes, back elbow by the Million Dollar Man. Continues to work him over with turnbuckle smashes, right hands, and shoulder blocks. Elbow strike to the top of Savage's head from the second rope.
Savage reverses a whip into the corner, hits a back elbow. Ted reverses Savage's whip into the ropes, but then drops his head too early for a back bodydrop and gets kicked in the face. Running knee to Ted's back dumps him out of the ring, Savage follows and tosses him back in. Axhandle off the top rope to DiBiase in the middle of the ring.
Elbow drop by Savage. Bodyslam. Follows with a kneedrop, but misses. Spinning toe hold by DiBiase, but Savage kicks him all the way out to the floor. DiBiase drags Macho out. Once Savage starts to get the better of him, Andre starts bearing in on him. As he stops, Virgil blatantly attacks him from behind, seemingly right in front of referee Dave Hebner, but instead of disqualifying DiBiase, Hebner just ejects Virgil. Commercial break.
Back from break, Ted lowers an axhandle from the second rope. Locks in the reverse chinlock to talk something over, really the first real resting spot of the match. Randy works his way back up to his feet, elbows his way loose from the hold. Shoulderblock by Savage off the ropes. Off the ropes again with a clothesline. Elbow smash. Back bodydrop. Sends DiBiase into the ropes, drops down underneath him, and DiBiase collides with Hebner for the ref bump.
Savage with a knee-lift, then he dumps Ted outside. Nice axhandle from the top to the floor. At this point Andre attacks Savage from behind, then posts him. As Andre continues the beating, Elizabeth runs backstage. Dave Hebner finally comes to, and he counts to 10 for the countout. Andre throws Savage back into the ring, Virgil runs back down, and the three begin to beat Savage down further. This only lasts a minute or so, until Hogan comes running down with a chair in hand to clear the ring. Liz is back with him, obviously being the one who went and got Hulk.
Result: Ted DiBiase via countout (11:39)
Rating: Pretty decent. Good heel work from DiBiase here. A good foreshadow of what was about to happen at WrestleMania IV. 2.75 stars out of 5.
05-13-2014
, 11:16 PM
WWF Title is vacated, put up for grabs in one-night tournament at WrestleMania IV
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMTM5vAFcFQ
At The Main Event I, Hulk Hogan was ripped off of the WWF Title when he clearly put his shoulder up on the count of 1 on a pin attempt by Andre, and the crooked referee just counted on through it anyway and awarded the belt to the Giant. Andre proceeded to immediately hand the belt to Ted DiBiase, who had paid him off.
WWF President Jack Tunney made the declaration that no matter how bad the official's call, the call stood and Hogan lost the title. But Andre had forfeited it, so he wasn't the champion either. And Ted DiBiase was disallowed from buying the WWF Title, so the title was vacated. The new champion would be determined in a tournament at WrestleMania IV. Randy Savage was among the field entered into the tournament.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMTM5vAFcFQ
At The Main Event I, Hulk Hogan was ripped off of the WWF Title when he clearly put his shoulder up on the count of 1 on a pin attempt by Andre, and the crooked referee just counted on through it anyway and awarded the belt to the Giant. Andre proceeded to immediately hand the belt to Ted DiBiase, who had paid him off.
WWF President Jack Tunney made the declaration that no matter how bad the official's call, the call stood and Hogan lost the title. But Andre had forfeited it, so he wasn't the champion either. And Ted DiBiase was disallowed from buying the WWF Title, so the title was vacated. The new champion would be determined in a tournament at WrestleMania IV. Randy Savage was among the field entered into the tournament.